France 0-2 Germany: Florian Wirtz nets opener inside seven seconds as Julian Nagelsmann’s side claim key win

Florian Wirtz’s wondergoal inside eight seconds helped Germany rip up the form book and earn a well-deserved 2-0 win over France in Lyon.

Julian Nagelsmann’s side were three games without a victory coming into this friendly encounter at the Groupama Stadium, but any early nerves that they had were shattered within mere seconds as their young starlet Wirtz hammered home a right-footed rocket before France had even had a touch of the ball.

Kai Havertz doubled Die Mannschaft’s advantage four minutes into the second half, sweeping home after excellent work between Wirtz and Jamal Musiala, with the latter’s delightful control and lay-off perfect for the onrushing Arsenal forward to slot into an empty net.

Didier Deschamps’ hosts were uncharacteristically pedestrian - with their talisman Kylian Mbappe completely off the pace - but they grew into the game in the dying embers of the first half, with Mbappe missing two half-chances, and Jules Kounde stinging the palms of Marc-Andre ter Stegen in the German goal.

Ousmane Dembele, the brightest light in a dim French side, curled an effort just wide of the mark on 57 minutes, and debutant left-back Max Mittelstadt was denied a ‘traumtor’ by the fingertips of Brice Samba in the closing stages, while the former Nottingham Forest shot-stopper also kept out Thomas Muller and Deniz Undav’s double-salvo in the 82nd minute.

France looked bereft of ideas as they sought to get back into the encounter, but this, no matter how much of a friendly this is supposed to be, will be a huge victory for Nagelsmann and Germany.

That can usually happen when you have a litany of superstars at your disposal.

It shouldn’t, but it can, especially when they haven’t played with each other for a while.

There seemed to be no fluidity in France’s patterns of play; instead they were looking for their talisman Mbappe at every opportunity to produce a moment of magic that would give them a foothold in a game that they never looked close to winning.

They weren’t looking to engage in winning the ball back high up the field - as Germany were - and there seemed to be a universal feeling of defeat as soon as Havertz’s goal went in.

Yes, it was just a friendly, but far better will be needed if Les Bleus are to stake a claim to become European champions once more.

Just another exemplary exhibition from this emerald of a talent.

Playing in a freer role off the right flank, the 21-year-old was granted the licence to drift inside and create numerical overloads in midfield, as well as pick up dangerous pockets in the half-spaces, where the intricate passes of Ilkay Gundogan, Toni Kroos, and Florian Wirtz could find him.

He may not have produced the stunner that Wirtz did, but the Bayern midfielder was instrumental in everything good that the visitors did in possession.

France: Samba 7, Pavard 6, Kounde 6, Upamecano 6, Hernandez 6, Z-Emery 6, Tchouameni 6, Rabiot 6, Dembele 7, Thuram 5, Mbappe 5. Substitutes: Clauss 6, Hernandez 6, Camavinga 6, Giroud 6, Fofana 6, Muani 6.

Germany: Ter Stegen 6, Kimmich 7, Tah 7, Rudiger 7, Mittelstadt 6, Kroos 7, Andrich 6, Gundogan 6, Musiala 8, Wirtz 8, Havertz 7. Substitutes: Fuhrich 6, Muller 6, Undav 6, Fullkrug 6, Anton 6.

1': GOAL! FRANCE 0-1 GERMANY (WIRTZ) Oh my! Germany take the lead inside eight seconds, as Wirtz fires a thunderous drive in off the crossbar from just after the kick off. It was played into the Leverkusen man in centre-field, and, in plenty of space, the ball sat kindly for him to strike mesmerisingly beyond Brice Samba. What a start!

26': GOOD SAVE! Mbappe has another chance as he bursts into the box and in behind the German backline. He goes for the dink, but Ter Stegen is still upright and can paw it away.

49': GOAL! FRANCE 0-2 GERMANY (HAVERTZ) It's two, and this time Havertz scores. Musiala takes the ball down beautifully from a clipped reverse pass from Wirtz, before laying it off perfectly for the onrushing Havertz, who sweeps in to double the visitors' lead.

57': CLOSE! Dembele, however, has been the French's shining light this evening, and he darts inside onto his favoured left foot and curls an effort narrowly wide of the far post with ter Stegen scrambling.

82': STRONG SAVE ... from Samba as the ball sits up for Thomas Muller to strike with his left, and the former Nottingham Forest goalkeeper is equal to it, before Undav's first action is to force the keeper into another stop to tip it around the post.

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